Aston Villa are reportedly making significant progress in their bid to bring former loan star Tammy Abraham back to the club, with a substantial long-term contract offer now on the table.
Villa's Push for a Proven Striker
According to reports from The Times, Unai Emery's side are closing in on a deal to sign the 28-year-old striker from Serie A's AS Roma during the January transfer window. It is believed Villa have moved ahead of other interested parties, including Premier League rivals Everton, by presenting Abraham with the security of a contract lasting around four and a half years.
The club's urgency for attacking reinforcements was triggered by the surprise departure of forward Donyell Malen, who joined Roma on loan earlier this month. Villa are keen to provide strong competition for leading striker Ollie Watkins as they aim to secure silverware and regain their place in the Champions League.
Abraham's Villa Connection and Career Path
Tammy Abraham became a fan favourite at Villa Park during a spectacular loan spell in the 2018/19 Championship season. His contribution was pivotal to the club's promotion, as he netted 25 goals in 37 league appearances.
After establishing himself at Chelsea, he moved to Roma in 2021 and later had a loan stint at AC Milan. He is currently on loan at Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas. A return to the Premier League with Villa is said to be his preferred option, partly as it could reignite his chances of representing England at future tournaments, having never been selected for a major international competition.
Complications and Potential Solutions
Despite the positive talks, the transfer is not without its hurdles. Besiktas are understood to have triggered an option to make Abraham's loan deal permanent in the summer. To navigate this, Aston Villa may explore offering a player on loan to the Turkish club as compensation.
One name suggested as a potential makeweight is Ivorian forward Evann Guessand, who has struggled since his summer move. Unai Emery remains determined to add firepower to his squad, and all parties are working to find a solution that would see Abraham return to the West Midlands nearly seven years after his last appearance for the club.
